Sport Confidential: Rock legend Jon Stevens orchestrates new Blues team song
BRAD Fittler threw up the challenge for a song to inspire NSW and, right on cue, it emerges that former Noiseworks lead singer Jon Stevens has a little number in his bottom drawer called “Calling NSW”. LISTEN HERE
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NSW coach Brad Fittler threw up the challenge for a song to inspire his side and, right on cue, it emerges that former Noiseworks lead singer Jon Stevens has a little number in his bottom drawer called “Calling NSW”.
The rock song has an anthem feel to it.
The song even has a touch of Origin pedigree to it, with Stevens recording the song with former Blues great Benny Elias sitting in the studio with him.
Stevens is thinking of releasing the song for the Blues, with proceeds to go to the Men of League.
LISTEN TO THE NEW TEAM SONG IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
“He’s a mad Blues fan,” Elias said. “I got him six tickets for the last game in Sydney.
“I’ve flicked it on to Freddy.”
So, on the count of three, everybody …
“We’re gonna get them
“Canetoads off our ground
“We’re ready for the Battle
“Gonna shut them down.”
Given the current high point for Origin anthems is “Aye aye yippee yippee aye”, Stevens looks to be on a winner.
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JOEY LEFT RED FACED AT FAMILY REUNION
IT was a family reunion of sorts for the Johns boys after Matty Johns lobbed up to NSW training on Thursday where brother Andrew is an assistant coach.
The duo were snapped talking to fellow Blues staff Greg Alexander.
It wouldn’t be the Johns boys unless there was some fun, and in this instance it was the eighth Immortal Andrew who was left red faced after struggling to reverse park his car, much to the amusement and heckling of Matty.
Andrew battled so much, he asked Alexander to move the car in front of him forward to allow him to squeeze into the spot.
Matty was there on hand to do an interview for Fox League.
ADDO-CARR SHINES AT CHOC’S SESSION
FOR all the bravado, Anthony Mundine was a nervous attendee before putting the Blues through a boxing class at Woolloomooloo PCYC Tuesday.
Mundine’s criticism of Blues coach Brad Fittler during their playing days was always a headline and Fittler showed a benevolent heart to invite Mundine into camp.
Mundine, who is used to an entourage, organised for the Loo’s patron James Dack to meet him before heading into the gym.
It is no surprise that within the Blues it was Josh Addo-Carr that threw them best.
Watching the Blues train was Addo-Carr’s grandfather Wally Carr, one of the all-time greats of Australian boxing.
LISTEN! Nick Campton and Tim Williams hash out all the details of Origin III, ask who has the most to gain from the dead rubber and wonder if Penrith’s season is on the ropes.
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FREDDY’S SIREN SURPRISE FOR BLUES
BEFORE the session kicked off in the boxing ring on Tuesday, Blues coach Brad Fittler had a surprise for his players.
“Time to start as soon as you hear the siren,” Fittler said, which struck at least a few as unusual given they were in a boxing gym, and not on a football field.
At that point the Phantom Siren, once the bane of ground announcers across Sydney, let rip with a Kogarah Jubilee special.
MORE DRAMA AHEAD FOR MANLY CAP SAGA
MANLY’S salary cap drama shows no sign of coming to an end.
The club’s appeal against a $750,000 fine and $660,000 in salary cap penalties was expected to take a day or two and finish last week.
Instead, the legal argument has been fierce and the appeal is still not completed.
The head of the appeals committee, Ian Callinan QC, is well placed to deal with any flare-ups during the hearing.
He is being assisted in this appeal by Noel Kelly, one of the toughest players to ever play the game and flying winger Mike Cleary.
DEPARTING DOUST ASSURANCE FOR STEELERS
OUTGOING Dragons boss Peter Doust assured St George Illawarra fans that the club “will continue to represent the interests of both St George and Steelers” after The Daily Telegraph revealed St George Leagues Club had entered the fray to buy out the Dragons’ debt.
“There is nothing concrete to confirm at the moment and when there is, the club will advise accordingly,” Doust said in a statement. “The history of St George and the Steelers, the name and colours of St George Illawarra Dragons, NRL games in Wollongong and Kogarah are non-negotiable elements of any discussions.
“Any changes in ownership and governance will be about improving and building upon what the club already has in place.”
DOUST SET FOR NEW ROLE
JUST on Doust, he looks set to be appointed as an observer to the Rugby League International Federation board after receiving unanimous support in club land.
NRL clubs will appoint an observer to prevent the mid-year Denver Test from happening again. And that man looks to be Doust, who will leave the Dragons at the end of the year. There remains a push from NRL clubs to remove John Grant as chairman of the international Federation. He was only appointed to the role earlier this year when he stood down as chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission.
The clubs are angling for new ARLC chair Peter Beattie to replace Grant. They are also wanting it to be done sooner rather than later with fears Grant may revamp the make-up of the board and appoint himself as an independent director before they can strike.
SHARKS CIRCLE JOSH MORRIS
JOSH Morris might not be lost to the NRL with Cronulla said to be quietly interested in his services.
Morris is off contract at Canterbury and many believed he would be lost to the English Super League but the Sharks are in the hunt for a big outside back and like the look of Morris.
The Titans are another club who have had internal discussions about making a play for Morris with Canterbury also considering making him a one year deal. The Titans are expected to lose fringe player Brendan Elliott to the English Super League.
Cronulla made a quiet dip at Blake Ferguson before withdrawing from the race last week.
Ferguson received similar offers from the Parramatta and Newcastle but wanted to stay in Sydney to be near his former partner and child, so the Eels got the nod.
Could Morris’s availability have turned the Sharks away from Ferguson?
KNIGHTS EYE YOUNG GUN ISAAKO
THE Knights were unsuccessful in their bid to sign Ferguson, but are looking at Brisbane winger and goalkicker Jamayne Isaako. The 22-year-old, who made his Kiwis Test debut this year — has been in great form for the Broncos and would add to some handy recruits already for the Knights who have landed Sharks duo Edrick Lee and Jesse Ramien.
His goalkicking would be a handy bonus and take some pressure off Kalyn Ponga.
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FITTLER CHALLENGES BLUES TO CREATE HISTORY
Fittler has challenged his side to find the motivation they need to create history.
Origin whitewashes are rare with the Blues having done so just once in the past 21 years. Even the all-conquering Queensland have only did it on one occasion within the same time line.
The Blues have only clean swept a series just three times in Origin history.
“The record speaks for itself, no many people get to do it,” Fittler said. “Motivation is not hard to get, it’s quite amazing.
“It comes down to them, they get the final say.”
Motivation for the Maroons will be easy. Aside from wanting to avoid the embarrassment of not winning a match this year, their other focus will be ensuring fullback Billy Slater is sent off a winner as he closes out his decorated Origin career.
Fittler said he has not tinkered with what worked in the opening two games.
“Cut and paste the first two camps,” Fittler said.
Fittler said he had learnt plenty during his first Origin series.
“One thing is evident that you need a lot of preparation and a lot of people work behind the scenes to get everything right as we can,” Fittler said. “It’s a big show. My mindset from the start with dealing with the media is you can’t have a big show and hide the people.”
He has made a point of picking players who he feel would be well respected by the NSW fan base. Fittler said he noticed a sense of pride as he mingled with fans following the win at ANZ Stadium after game two.
“I didn’t walk around but I went out and went around to all the players and congratulated them,” Fittler said. “(Watching the fans) it was nice to see that was nice to do to look at their faces they understood they did something pretty inspiring.
“The feedback I’m getting they like this footy team.”
SPOTTED
Panthers general manager Phil Gould keeping a very close eye on journalists during Penrith’s media session this week.
FAMILY MEMBER NOT ROOTING FOR TARIQ
AS Tariq Sims prepares to make his Origin debut on Wednesday night he isn’t sure if he will have his whole family behind him. His brother Korbin has elected to play for the Maroons and has been part of their extended squad in the past.
“To be honest I don’t really care,” Sims joked. “He is my brother but he is a Queenslander.”